Box Score HAVRE, Mont. -- For the second-straight match, the No. 19-ranked Montana Tech volleyball team took five sets to earn a Frontier Conference win. But for the second-straight match, the Orediggers got it done.

Montana Tech battled to a 23-25, 25-22, 25-15, 27-29, 15-12 victory on the road at Montana State-Northern Thursday. Setter Rhys Layton notched her second-consecutive double-double for Tech with a career-best 62 assists and 11 digs, and the Diggers hit a red-hot .270 as a team in the win.

Olivia LaBeau led Montana Tech with 23 kills, and Megan Benton and Kinnidi Willmore attacked well for Tech, too, with 18 and 15 kills, respectively. Jelena Jablanov anchored the back row with 23 digs, and Austin Long dug out 17 Lights attacks as well. Mayson Moore served up four aces.

Tech jumped out to a 12-7 lead in the opening set, but MSUN overcame a late deficit with a 6-1 run to take the early lead. The Diggers also led early in the second, but the Lights rallied to take a 17-13 advantage. Benton's kill got Tech back on track, and the visitors scored 12 of the final 17 points to even the tally at a set apiece.

Layton took over the third. The sophomore racked up 12 assists, two kills, and two blocks to put the Diggers ahead with the 25-15 set win.

After Northern won the fourth, Montana Tech snagged the upper hand in the decider and flipped the court with an 8-6 lead. MSUN cut the lead to one twice, but the Diggers rallied to put the match away thanks to a LaBeau kill.

The win avenged a four-set home loss to the Lights on October 3. Tech has won 23 of the last 26 meetings between the in-state rivals.

Thursday's was Tech's second-consecutive five-set victory. The Diggers bested rival Carroll College Saturday at home in five.

Montana Tech will return to the HPER Complex Saturday to continue conference play against Providence. Match time is set for 7 p.m.

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